Rug cleaning nozzle



Jan 2 1951 K. M. HAMMELL. 2,536,443

RUG CLEANING Nozzu-z Filed April 3. 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 Jan. 2, 1951 K. M. HAMMELL Y 2,536,443

RUG CLEANING NOZZLE Filed April 3, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,l/ l 7 l y Z4 f4 7 $2 l k/2 w44 ff E@ i /0 a 50 f//l/ /H' /ff/ f@ @El f 20 www Patented Jan. 2, 1951 RUG CLEANN'G NOZZLE Kemper M. Hammell, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Eurka Williams Corporation, a corporation of Michigan Application April 3, 1944, serial No. 529,358 Ae; claims. (C1. i5sss This invention relates to suction cleaners and `has particular' reference to a rug nozzle provided with a traction driven lbrush and adapted in the embodiment `of the invention selected for purposes of illustration to be Vconnected with a source Vof suction, such as that provided by a vacuum cleaner; Certain features of the invention may be utilized `in other forms of the device than the particulartype illustrated.

Principal objects of the invention are to provide;

A new and Vimproved suction cleaner; p A new and improved rug nozzle for a suction cleaner; l l

A new andimprovedrug nozzle provided with a rotary brush; Y

vA new and improved rug nozzle having a handle for maneuvering the same and provided with means for taking theJ handle thrust so that the nozzle will tend to ride on the top of the nap of the carpet; i p

A rug cleaning suction ytool provided with a rotary brush and `a handle for maneuvering the tool, with the nozzle and brush of the4 tool constructed and arranged to ride on the top of the nap of the carpet being cleaned.

V*Other `objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent/from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which there are two `sheets and wherein:

FigT 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the invention; e 1 e Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view with 4certain parts thereof broken away;

v-Fig.- 3 is across sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. f2', looking in the direction of the arrows; I 1 V Y Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the staggered line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction `f the arrows, and illustrating the drivingy means for the rotary brush;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along thelines 5 5 and 5 6 respectively of Fig. 2;

Fig. l" is a reduced view of the rug nozzle with a handle connected thereto; and

y 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the driving connectionbetween one of the `wheels and the rotary brush. Y In the embodiment of the invention selected for Apurposes of illustration there is provided a Suction cleaning tool which might be termed a ug or carpet cleaning nozzle. This nozzle comprises a `casing `Iii formedby a b'a'se I2 and a hood r cap I4. A socket I6 formed in one end of a 2 coupling memberV Il which projects rearwardly and upwardly from the casing lil is adapted for receiving the end of a pipe or wandI I which forms a handle by means of which the rug nozzle may be maneuvered over a 4rug or carpet for cleaning the same.

The pipe or wand I8 may have anysuitable detachable connection with the socket I6 and the upper end of such pipe or wand may be adapted to receive the end of a hose which is connected with -a suitable source of suction, such as that provided by a conventional suction cleaner of the tank type. Y l

The coupling member I1 communicates with theinterior of the casingll) and may comprise a tubular member, one end -20 of which is tted into a suitableopening provided in theoonnecting part of a U-shaped bracket or bail 22. Each arm 24 of the bail has aiiixed thereto andl projecting outwardly therefrom a stub shaft 25, the said stub shafts 25 being arranged in axial alignment. The inner ends -28 of the stub shafts 26 may be formed with a rivet head so as to` rigidly secure the shafts 25 to the arms of the bail 22 Each shaft 2t has journaled thereon a wheel 3i) which may include a tire 32 made of rubber or the like. The wheels 3i) are arranged between the arms 24 of the bail `and the inside ends ofV the casing lil, the base I2 being provided with slots 34 through which the bottoms of the wheelsl 3E! may extend so as to roll upon the carpet or other surface over which the rug nozzle vmay be maneuvered` Y f e 1' y Y Each of the stub shafts 26 at their outer ends are provided with a reduced portion 36 forming a guide for cooperation with a guide 38 provided by a vertically extending slot or groove formed in the inside of the adjacent end wall 4i) of the casing I0. The guides 38 cooperating with the guides 36 `prevent the wheels 3D from shifting laterally relative to the casing I0 while permitting free and unrestricted vertical shiftingwithin limits of the wheels 30 relative to the casing I0. The guide slots 38 are of such length that the bottom oi the wheels 3U may project through the slots 34 and below the base I2 atleast three-eighths of an inch when the wheels 30 are in their lowermost position relative to the casing IID. Due to the manner in which the handle I8 is mounted upon the wheels 30, the latter take all of the thrust of the handle when the rug nozzle is being maneuvered over a carpet.

The base I2 of the nozzle may be provided with suitably formed surfaces such as sleds or runners 42. These runners extend parallel to the direc- 5 tion that the nozzle is adapted to be moved over face of the base between the runners is arranged at a slightly higher elevation than the surfaces of the runners 42. This is done to reduce the frictional drag between the base I2 and the carpet and also to insure that the mouth 44 of the nozzle will be positioned substantially in the plane of the top surface of the nap of the carpet as the runners 42 will sink into the surface of the carpet a slight amount under the weight of the mass of the nozzle and the torque reaction of the driving connection between the wheels 36 andthe rotary brush 60 when the nozzle is being pushed forwardly.

The base I2 may, as illustrated, be provided by a stamping which is formed to provide the mouth 44 of the nozzle and the runners 42. The nozzle mouth 44 extends parallel to the forward side of the rug nozzle and substantially from end to end thereof. The stamping whichprovides the base I2 may be provided with a peripheral upstanding flange 46 which is snugly tted within a complemental-y shaped marginal flange 43 formed around the lower end of the hood I4. The hood I4 may be provided by a molded plastic of the types now commonly used for parts of this kind. A bumper of resilient material may encircle the casing I0 at the joint between the base I2 and the hood I4.

The coupling member I'I projects through an opening in the hood I4 which permits the handle I8 of which the coupling member I'I forms a part to pivot on the shafts 26 throughout a substantial arc; that is, from almost a vertical position to approximately a horizontal position. Each side of the opening in the hood I4 through which the coupling member I I projects is provided with a curved groove or track 52. A curved member 54 is slidable in the grooves or tracks 52. The member 54 is provided with a hole through which the neck 56 of the coupling member II extends, the edges of the hole having a close iit with the neck 56 so as substantially to seal the same while permitting a sliding movement of the couplingr member axially with respect to the hole through the member 54. This movement occurs when the wheels 30 move vertically relative to the casing I0. The member54 and the tracks 52 are adapt-l ed to provide a seal between the coupling member and the hood so as to permit a limited pivotal or axial movement of the coupling member` with respect to the hood I4 and nozzle of which the hood is a part. Y

A rotary brush indicated generally at 60 is rotatably mounted within the nozzle just above the mouth 44 thereof and so that the ends of the bristles 62 of the brush will be positioned substantially in the plane of the mouth of the nozzle. The rotary brush 60 includes a pair of axially aligned rotary bodies 64 having bristles or equivalent devices suitably provided thereon. Each of the rotary bodies 64 at its outer end (that is, at the end thereof adjacent the wheel 30) is provided with a stub shaft 66 projecting therefrom at the axis thereof. The stub shafts 66 are rotatably supported by a self-aligning bearing 68,

and the outer end of the shaft 66 has aiiixed thereto a pinion 'I0 the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of an internal gear 'I2 formed or provided internally on the wheel 30. At the inner or adjacent ends of the rotary bodies 64 a sleeve bearing 'I4 is arranged at the axis of each of the rotary bodies 64. A shaft 'I6 extends into and between said bearings 'I4 so as to align the same and to permit rotation of one relative toV the other. The shaft 'I6 between the adjacent ends of the rotary bodies 64 is supported by an arm I8 of a bracket which additionally includes arms B2 parallel to the arm 'I8 but arranged adjacent the bearings 68. The bracket 80 including the arms 'I8 and 82 thereof thus supports the two aligned sections 64 of the rotary brush for movement about the same axis. The arms 82 may be spaced from the outer ends of the sections 64 of the rotary brush by suitable gaskets 84.

Each of the bearings 68, which may be of the self-aligning type formed of an oil-impregnated material, is suitably mounted in a circular wall or plate 86 which has a running fit within the rim of the wheel 30. The wall 86 is rotatably mounted on a part of the stub shaft 26 between the arm 2470i the bail 22 and the hub of the wheel 30. The wall 86 includes inner and outer parallel members 88 and 90 spaced at their periphery to provide an annular pocket for receiving a gasket 92 which forms a part of the running seal between the circular wall 86 and the inner rirnl of the wheel 30. AThe self-aligning bearing 68 is suitably mounted in the members 88 and 90 while the shaft 66 projects through the bearing 68 so as to provide a driving connection between the wheel 30 and one of the sections 64 of the rotary brush. VBy maneuvering the rug nozzle forwardly or reversely over the floor by means of the handle I8 the wheels 30 may be caused to turn, which in turn will through the aforesaid driving connection drive the sections of the rotary brush 60. The gear ratio is such that the peripheral speed of the bristles 62 of the rotary brush may be several times greater than the peripheral speed of the wheels 30.

The circular wall 86 is free to rotate relative to the wheel 36 and the bail 22. The wall members 86 are interconnected by a rod 81. The circular walls 86 associated with each of the wheels 30 along with both sections ofthe rotary brush 66 are arranged to move together by means of the bracket 80 which is provided with an adjustable connection With the casing I0 so that the rotary brush 60 normally is xed relative to the mouth 44 of the nozzle and floats therewith relative to the wheels 30.

By the mechanism hereinafter described the bracket 80 is adjustably connected to the casing I0 thereby permitting the position of the rotary brush 60 to be adjusted relative to the mouth 44 of the nozzle to compensate for wear of the bristles 62. As illustrated in Fig. 6, a sleeve |00 projects upwardly from the bracket 80 Vat the center thereof. A spring |02 surrounding the sleeve |00 is confined between a surface on the hood I4 andV a marginal ange on the sleeve IUI! for biasing the bracket 80 and rotary brush 66 to its lowermost position relative to the casing. However, a shaft |04 carried by a rotary adjusting member |06 carried by the hood I4 projects down into the sleeve |00 and is provided with oppositely projecting pins |08 which cooperate with oppositely disposed spiral slots I|0 formed in the sleeve |00 for locating the bracket 80 relative to the hood I4.- By rotating the adjustable member A`N16 "ln a counterclcckwisedirection from that lin which -it .is illustrated in Fig. 1, the bracket 80 willfbe moved downwardly `relative fto rthe nozzle, while movement of the adjustable member |06 in a clockwise direction from the position in lwhich it is illus- "trated in Fig. 1 will imove the bracket 80 upwardly relative to the nozzle. The `adjustable member l0 `isladapted to remain/in whatever position it is set so as to maintain the adjustment selected.

When the interiorof the 'casing l ii is connected with a source of suction and 'the rug nozzle is maneuvered over a-carpet,a stream of air willenfterthe mouth 44 `oi' -the nozzlecarrying with `it dirt picked up `from `the carpet. 'In addition the vrotationoitbe brushes -will sweep the surface of the-carpet, thereby aiding-in removing dirt therefrom. When the rug `nozzle is lused in connection with -a Aktank cleaner -of the type new convention- -ally used,\the suction -head 'at the nozzle 44 :will

not be very great, but will be sufficient to draw the carpet and particularly the nap thereof opposite the mouth M'upwardly so as to expedite the cleaning thereof. As previously explained, since the thrust of the handle is taken by the wheels 3&1, the mouth 44 of the nozzle will ride substantially on the top of the nap of the carpet, irrespective of the character thereof. 1

While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purpose of illustration only and is not definitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claims.

I claim:

'1. A cleaning tool comprising a nozzle having a suction chamber formed therein and having an intake mouth formed in a lower wall thereof and communicating with said suction chamber, said lower wall being adapted to be passed over a carpet for cleaning said carpet through said inlet mouth, a pair of wheels disposed in said suction chamber at the opposite ends of said intake, said wheels being adapted to project through said lower wall for engaging said carpet, said wheels being mounted in said casing for movement relative thereto in a direction normal to said carpet, a handle projecting through said nozzle and rotatably supporting said wheels, said handle being mounted in a wall of said nozzle for angular movement relative to said wall and for axial movement oi` said handle, said handle having a passage formed therein and communicating with said suction chamber for exhausting said chamber during the operation of said tool, a rotary brush in said chamber adapted to project through said intake mouth for engagement with said carpet, bracket means movable with respect to said nozzle for rotatably supporting said rotary brush, adjustable means for supporting said bracket relative to said nozzle, means accessible externally of said nozzle for adjusting said adjustable means for varying the position of said rotary brush relative to said intake mouth, and means responsive to the rotation of said wheels for rotatably driving said rotary brush.

2. A cleaning tool comprising a nozzle having a suction 'chamber formed therein and having an intake mouth formed in a lower wall thereof and i communicating with said suction chamber, said lower wall being adapted to be passed overa carpet forcleaning Asaid carpet through .said inlet finouth, a pair ofwhee'ls disposed in said .suction lclfiau'nber and being adapted to project `thrcuglfi d lower wall for engaging said fcarpet, `said wheels 1being mounted Sin fsaid cash/'1g for l'movement relativethere'to in a direction Lnorr'nal'tosaid carpet, `a handle projecting through said 'nozzle and -i'otatably'f supporting 'said wl'ieels, said ih'andl'e being mountedlin a wall of said nozzle for angularmovementrelativeto said'wall and 'for axial movement-oi saidhandla a rotary brush lin said `chamber adapted to project :through said intake jmouth for engagement with saidcarpet, bracket means movable with respect to said nczzle 'for rotatably supporting said rotary brush, adjust- "able means vfor supporting said bracket relative vto said nozzle, means accessible externally of said `nozzle for adjusting said `adju-stable means for varying the position of said rotary'brulsh `relative to said intake mouth, andmeans responsive `=to lthe :rotation of said wheels for rotatably Ydriving `1 said rotary brush.

3. A cleaning tool comprising a nozzle having a suction chamber formed therein and having an intake mouth formed in a lower wall thereof and communicating with said suction chamber, said lower wall being adapted to be passed over a carpet for cleaning said carpet through said inlet mouth, a pair of wheels disposed in said suction chamber and being adaptedto projectthrough said lower wall for engaging said carpet, said wheels being mounted in said casing for movement relative thereto in a direction normal to said carpet, a handle projecting through said nozzle and rotatably supporting said wheels, said handle being mounted in a wall of said nozzle for angular movement relative to said wall and for axial movement of said handle, a rotary brush in said chamber adapted to project through said intake mouth for engagement with said carpet, bracket means supported by and adjustable with respect to said nozzle for rotatably supporting said rotary brush, and means responsive to the rotation of said wheels for rotatably driving said rotary brush.

4. A cleaning tool comprising a nozzle having a suction chamber formed therein and having an intake mouth formed in a lower wall thereof and communicating with said suction chamber, said lower wall being adapted to be passed over a carpet for cleaning said carpet through said inlet mouth, a pair of wheels disposed in said suction chamber and being adapted to project through said lower wall for engaging said carpet, said wheels being mounted in said casing for movement relative thereto in a direction normal to said carpet, a handle projecting through said nozzle and rotatably supporting said wheels, said handle being mounted in a wall of said nozzle for angular movement relative to said wall and for axial movement of said handle, a rotary brush in said chamber adapted to project through said intake mouth for engagement with said carpet, and bracket means adjustable with respect to said nozzle for rotatably supporting said rotary brush.

5. A cleaning tool as dened in claim 4 in which said bracket means extends along the length of said rotary brush and has parallel supports projecting therefrom for rotatably supporting said rotary means at the opposite ends thereof and intermediate said opposite ends.

6. A cleaning tool comprising a nozzle having a suction chamber formed therein and having an intake mouth formed in a lower wall thereof and chamber and being adapted to project through said lower wall for engaging said carpet, said Wheels being mounted in said casing for movement relative thereto in a direction normal to said carpet, arhandle projecting through said nozzle and rotatably supporting said Wheels, said handle being mounted in a Wall of said nozzle for angular movement relative to said Wall and for axial movement of said handle, a rotary brush `in said chamber adapted to project through said means mounted on said rotary brush responsive to the rotation of said Wheels for rotatably driving said rotary brush, and means rotatably 20 mounted about the axis of rotation of said wheels and movable therewith relative to saidY nozzle for rotatably supporting saidvmeans mounted `on said rotary brush.

KEMPER M. I-IAMMELL.V

REFERENCES CiTEn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 826,513 Kenney Julyl'l, 1906 993,202 Russell May 23, V1911 1,050,989 Niuer Jan. 21, 1913 1,318,881 Kelley Oct, 14, 1919 1,392,874 Johnston Oct. 4, 1921 1,611,684 Serva Dec. 21, 1926 1,613,396 Keller Jan. 4,1927 2,143,125 McCardle Feb. 21, 1939 2,266,075 Replogle Dec. 16, 1941 2,333,471 Cranmer Nov. 2, 1943 

